Osteospermum plant named of &#39;Sunny Henry&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunny Henry’, characterized by white flower color RHS 158D with slight yellow tinge, to pure white, RHS 155D; dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to more upright stems; vigorous growth habit; less need for chemical growth retardation; and higher number of flowers per plant.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

[0001]Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0002] Sunny Henry

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum eclonis (DC) TNorl., commonly known by the name Cape Daisy, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Sunny Henry’.

[0004] The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor, Bjarne N. Larsen, in Stige, Denmark. TheInventor selected the new Osteospermum cultivar on the basis of itsflower color and compact, freely branching habit. Plants of the newOsteospermum are more upright, compact and have a unique colorcombination of upper and underside of the ray petals.

[0005] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetativecuttings taken and propagated during trial production batches in Stige,Denmark, has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum arestable and reproduced true to type in many successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Henry’ have not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0007] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunny Henry’. Thefollowing characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunny Henry’ as anew and distinct cultivar:

[0008] 1. White flower color RHS 158D with slight yellow tinge, to purewhite, RHS 155D.

[0009] 2. Dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to more upright stems.

[0010] 3. Vigorous growth habit; less need for chemical growthretardation.

[0011] 4. Higher number of flowers per plant.

[0012] Plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Henry’ can be compared to plants ofthe Osteospermum eclonis (DC) T Norl. cultivar ‘Sunny Gustav’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,670). In side-by-side comparisons conducted by theInventor in Stige Denmark, plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Henry’ and thecultivar ‘Sunny Gustav’ differ in the following characteristics:

[0013] 1. ‘Sunny Henry’ has striking white ray flowers and yellow diskwith orange pollen, while ‘Sunny Gustav’ has a white flower with blueeye.

[0014] 2. ‘Sunny Henry’ has yellow-green-colored leaves while plants ofthe cultivar ‘Sunny Gustav’ have darker green leaves.

[0015] 3. ‘Sunny Henry’ has shorter peduncles than plants of thecultivar ‘Sunny Gustav’.

[0016] 4. ‘Sunny Henry’ is shorter and more compact than the plants ofthe cultivar ‘Sunny Gustav’.

[0017] 5. ‘Sunny Henry’ has more and larger flowers per plant than theplants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Gustav’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0018] The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overallappearance and details of flower form color and structures of the newcultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in color reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographsmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description, which more accurately describe the actual colorsof the new Osteospermum.

[0019] The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunny Henry’ as grown in an 11 cm pot. Thesecond photo is a close-up of the composite young and older flowers of‘Sunny Henry’. The third photograph is a top view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Sunny Henry’. The fourth photograph shows the flowers andleaves of ‘Sunny Henry’ (in the fourth photograph, ‘Sunny Henry’ islabelled by its breeder's reference no. ‘10.514.01’).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0020] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition, where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants were grownunder greenhouse conditions. The plants described were grown for about20 weeks after cutting.

[0021] Plant description:

[0022]Form.—Perennial plant with upright, globular plant habit;composite flower heads; freely branching with lateral flowering branchesforming at every node; dense and bushy.

[0023]Crop time.—After rooting, about 18 weeks are required to producefinished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.

[0024]Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 15 cm.

[0025]Plant width.—18 cm.

[0026]Vigor.—Vigorous growth rate.

[0027]Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18 to 21 C intunnels in a greenhouse.

[0028]Root description.—Fine, well branched

[0029]Foliage description.—Leaves alternate, single, dentate,brochidodromus venation. Length: 3-9 cm. Width: About 30 mm. Shape:Obovate to lanceolate. Apex: obtuse. Base: attenuate. Margin: broadlydentate. Texture: smooth, glabrous, shiny. Scattered short, stiff hairs.Color: Young foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 147B, yellow-green.Mature foliage upper surfaces N147A and and lower surface 148A Venation,148B.

[0030] Flower description:

[0031]Flower arrangement and shape.—Tubular disk and petalled rayflowers in composite daisy heads; with 15 parted involucre.

[0032]Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring andsummer. Season can be extended by vernalization and long day treatments.Hot weather above 30 C reduces flowering.

[0033]Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual flowers ishighly dependent on temperature and light conditions 5 to 9 days.Flowers persistent, petals folding and withering slowly.

[0034]Inflorescence size.—Diameter about 6 cm.

[0035]Flowers.—Length: Ray petals: About 27 mm. Width: About 8 mm.Lanceolate, acute ray petal lobes. Ray petal color: Upper surfaces, 158Dwith slight yellow tinge under sides: 1B edges 1D to 1A at maturity.Disk flowers N155D, white.

[0036]Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 6 cm.Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: 144C yellow-green.

[0037] Reproductive organs:

[0038]Anthers.—Linear, fused, stamen color 17A, yellow.

[0039]Pollen.—Color 17A yellow.

[0040]Pistil and stigma.—Color 16C yellow-orange.

[0041]Seed.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.3 mm.

[0042]Weather tolerance.—Plants of the new Osteospermum have exhibitedgood tolerance to draught, rain and wind, and low temperatures to −1 C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named‘Sunny Henry’, as illustrated and described herein.